ChehalemVIA Ribbon-cutting Ceremony

Wow! Over 100 people packed into the accelerator for our formal opening and ribbon cutting. We opened the space last summer for our first tenant, AriAscend and did a lot of work since to optimize the space and environment – with more fine-tuning to come. We are after all, a start-up formed to help start-ups succeed.

Julie Marshall, our lead director, gave an overview of ChehalemVIA’s mission and introduced the board of directors and ex officio members. Our tenants, Fidgetech and AriAscend, explained their businesses and Dean Bob Harder of George Fox University’s Engineering School, explained the projects and partnership we have underway. Carr Biggerstaff, Chief Wrangler, gave updates about new tenants, programs and events, and partnerships.

Remarkably, the relentless morning rain broke and the sun came out just in time for us to all go outside for the ceremony. Between the sunshine and Mayor Bob Andrews speech about the accelerator bringing the our future to the valley, it was an auspicious occasion.